Apparatus for growing organisms by moist air

ABSTRACT

The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air comprises the closed moistening tank having water therein, and the mixing chamber on the surface of said water, the nozzle and air pump for releasing air bubbles into the said water, the moist air outlet provided on the said mixing chamber, and the air feed tube connected with the said moist air outlet for passing the moist air into the culture medium. 
     Within the said mixing chamber, watery components are caused to adhere to the surfaces of ascending bubbles in the water. Mist is formed from the rupture of these bubbles, Adjustment is made for selecting the mist of small particle size. Then, there is prepared the moist air containing almost uniformly the mist of small particle size by a high pressurization within the said mixing chamber. Such moist air is caused to pass through the air feed tube in the form of a nearly laminar flow into the culture medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for growing organisms suchas plants and benthoses, etc. by putting moist air into a culturemedium. The term "benthoses, etc." as used herein denotes "suchbenthoses as shellfishes, crabs, lugworms, etc. which live in the sandbottom of the sea or a lake, etc."

There has been known an apparatus for growing plants by moist air, whichis provided with an air feed tube having a plurality of nozzles buried,in the culture medium on which plants are grown, a sprayer, and an airblower directly connected with one end of the air tube. Mist comprisingwater, and liquid fertilizer, etc. sprayed from the sprayer and air sentby the air blower are released into the cultured meduim from a pluralityof nozzles of the air tube. Then, these are supplied to the roots ofplants (Japanese Patent KOKAI No. 29/1994, published on Jan. 11, 1994).

However, this conventional apparatus for growing plants hasdisadvantages. When such an apparatus is used, mist and air are directlyblown into the air feed tube in the form of a strong turbulent flow. Themist of large particles is blown into the feed tube in just the statethat it is in. Thus, many water drops are formed within and on the airfeed tube. These water drops eventually result in narrowing of thepassage within the air feed tube, and thereby lower the feeding capacityof moist air. Furthermore, the uniform mixture of mist and air cannot beobtained within the narrow air feed tube. The volume of moist airreleased from each of the nozzles of the air feed tube is from time totime subject to change due to the strong turbulent flow. Thus, there iscaused a problem that water, liquid fertilizer and oxygen cannot besupplied to plants as scheduled.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor growing organisms by moist air, which is capable of minimizing theformation of water drops within the air feed tube, and capable ofsupplying water and oxygen to organisms as scheduled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forgrowing plants by moist air, which is, capable of controlling theformation of water drops within the air feed tube and capable ofsupplying water and oxygen as scheduled.

A further other object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for growing benthoses, etc., such as shellfishes, crabs,lugworms, etc. by moist air, which apparatus is capable of controllingthe formation of water drops within the air feed tube and capable ofsupplying water and oxygen to the benthoses as scheduled.

These various objects may be, in short, realized by the presentinvention a having a specific moist air generating apparatus. The moistair generating apparatus comprises a closed moistening tank having watertherein and having a closed high pressure mixing chamber defined in thetank over the surface of said water, an air bubble releasing meansprovided at the lower end of the moistening tank for releasing airbubbles into the water, and a moist air outlet provided on top of themixing chamber and connected with the air feed tube extending into theculture medium.

The apparatus is capable of making an adjustment for selecting the mistof smaller particles from among those produced from the rupture ofbubbles ascending in the water within the moistening tank, mixing themist with air almost uniformly through a high pressurization within themixing chamber, forming moist air containing mist of smaller particlesalmost uniformly and causing this moist air to pass through the air feedtube in the form of laminar flow. In this manner, the formation of waterdrops can be kept in a small quantity and simultaneously the moist aircontaining an almost uniform amount of water can be constantly releasedin a fixed quantity into the culture medium from nozzles of the air feedtube. Thus, organisms can be supplied with water and oxygen asscheduled.

There may be used, as the air bubble releasing means mentioned above, anozzle having a plurality of pores, or a device made of solid material,having a plurality of pores, such as, for example, ceramics, metals,pumice, etc. in combination with an air pump or compressor, etc. forcompressing and forcing a flow of such air thereinto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view shown in cross section of the apparatus partiallyomitting some components thereof for growing green turf at a golf courseor link, which is a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in cross section of the apparatus partiallyomitting some components thereof for growing green turf at golf courseor link.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view shown in cross section of the moist airgenerating apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view shown in cross section of the apparatus partiallyomitting some components thereof for growing benthoses, which is thesecond embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view shown in cross section of a furtherembodiment of the moist air generating apparatus.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view partially shown in cross section of a stillfurther embodiment of the moist air generating apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show the apparatus for growing, by moist air, turf Bon the putting green of a golf course or link according to the presentinvention. The culture medium P thereof comprises the ventilativemixture of soil with sand, gravel, etc.

An air feed tube 1 having a plurality of nozzles on its side wall isburied meanderingly, if viewed from above, about 15 centimeter deep inthis culture medium P. The moist air generating apparatus 2 is connectedwith one end of the air feed tube 1. The other end of the air tube 1 isclosed. The structure of the moist air generating apparatus 2 is asdescribed below.

A closed quasi-cylindrical moistening tank 4 is positioned within a pit3 provided with a lid capable of opening or closing, located away fromthe putting green.

As shown in FIG. 3, water 5 is filled to about 2/3 of the insidemeasurement of the moistening tank 4. A high pressure mixing chamber 6,i. e. the closed space in the top of the tank is formed after thesurface of the water 5.

A bubble nozzle 8 having a plurality of pores has a releasing outletdirected into the water 5, and is connected through an opening 7provided in the lower end of the side wall of the moistening tank 4.

An exhaust pipe 10 of an air pump 9 is connected with the rear end ofthe nozzle 8.

A small moist air outlet 11 is provided on the top of the moisteningtank 4, namely on the upper center of the high pressure mixing chamber6. The outlet 11 is connected with one end of the air feed tube 1 by wayof a connecting tube 12.

An inlet 13 having a lid capable of opening or closing is provided onthe top of the moistening tank 4. A tubular water gauge 14 is providedon the side wall of the moistening tank 4.

The operation of the apparatus is started with the drive of the air pump9. Then, the air is forced by the air pump 9 and released, in the formof fine bubbles, into the water 5 within the moistening tank 4 throughthe bubble nozzle 8. Then these bubbles ascend in the water. While sodoing, watery components are caused to adhere to the surfaces of bubblesin the form of a film. When the bubbles are released out of the waterinto the air within the mixing chamber 6, they are ruptured and thewater film on the surface thereof is scattered and turns to mist. Insuch way, moist air containing mist is continually formed within themixing chamber 6. In consequence of it, the air pressure is graduallyraised within the mixing chamber 6. As the air pressure is raised withinthe mixing chamber 6, the air extends gradually into the air feed tube 1through the outlet 11.

Now, mist of larger particle size out of those scattered within the highpressure mixing chamber 6 would descend and return to the water 5. Thus,only the mist of smaller particle size floats within the chamber.Further, at the initial stage of the mixture, the bubbles are rupturedin the lower space near the water surface within the mixing chamber 6,and mist and air are caused to travel in many directions. Further, asthe pressure is raised within the mixing chamber 6, mist and air arethoroughly mixed with each other. Thereby, it follows that the moist aircontaining the mist of smaller particle size would stay almost uniformlyin the upper space within the mixing chamber 6.

The moist air under a high pressure within the mixing chamber 6 iscaused to pass into the air feed tube 1 through the outlet 11. Then, itis released into the culture medium P through each of the nozzles of theair feed tube 1. Thus, the roots of turf and aerobic microorganisms aresupplied with oxygen and water. The remaining air is released above theground through the culture medium P.

Since the moist air passing through the air feed tube 1 contains onlythe mist of small particle size and travels slowly in the form of alaminar flow, a small quantity of water drops has only to be formedwithin the air feed tube 1. Further, the moist air comprises an almostuniform mixture of mist and air and, under such condition, passesthrough the air feed tube 1 in the form of a laminar flow. Thus, thefixed quantity of the moist air containing the nearly uniform amount ofmoisture is released constantly from each of the nozzles.

Therefore, the caretaker of the turf B is, for example, able to predictthe quantity of water and oxygen to be supplied to the roots of turf fortheir good growth, and calculate, based on this prediction, theoperating time of the air pump 9 per day, and operate the air pump 9following this finding. Thereby, it becomes possible to grow the turf asscheduled.

When necessary, various additions may be supplied to the culture mediumthe the moist air such as harmful organism repellents, biocides,fertilizers, and other various plant growth adjuvants.

The addition of adjuvants to the said moist air may be made by mixingthe adjuvant in the form of aqueous solution with the water 5 of themoistening tank 4 or putting the same adjuvant in a gaseous form intothe mixing chamber 6.

For example, earthworn repellent in a gaseous form can be put into themixing chamber 6 through the inlet 13, prior to the operation of the airpump 9.

The earthworm repellent in gaseous form is released by the operation ofthe air pump 9 into the culture medium through the nozzles of the airfeed tube 1 in combination with the moist air formed within the mixingchamber 6.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is an apparatus for growing, by moistair, benthoses such as shellfishes, crabs, lugworms, etc. which live inthe sand bottom of the sea or a lake. The benthoses Ba are allowed tostay in the culture medium Pa comprising sand within a growing container15a.

The air feed tube 1a is connected with the moist air generatingapparatus 2a the connecting tube 12a. The air feed tube 1a is buriednear the bottom of the culture medium Pa within the said growingcontainer 15a. The structures of other components are substantially thesame as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

To the apparatuses for growing plants as shown in FIG. 1 to 3,inclusive, and the apparatus for growing benthoses tending to live inthe sand bottom of the sea or a lake as shown in FIG. 4, a heater and/orcooler, or heat pump provided with the combined functions of heating orcooling, may be added for heating or cooling the water within themoistening tank or air taken in by the air pump for the purpose ofadjusting the temperature of warm moist air or cool moist air to besupplied to the culture medium according to the change of season.

Such a moist air generating apparatus 2b is shown in FIG. 5. Thisapparatus comprises the tubular heat exchanger 17b connected with heatpump 16b and positioned in the water 5b of the moistening tank 4b. Thestructures of other components are substantially the same as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the moist air generating apparatus2c suitable for a dry season, which apparatus is used for the apparatusfor growing the turf on the golf course. Reference is made to thestructure of this embodiment. A water outlet 18c is additionallyprovided on the lower part of the side wall of the moistening tank 4c.The water outlet 18c is connected with one end of the air feed tube 1cby a connecting tube 19c having therein an electromagnetic valve 20c.Further, the inlet 13c on the top of the moistening tank 4c is connectedwith one end of the water supply tube 21c having therein anelectromagnetic valve 22c. The other end of the water supply tube 21c isconnected with the water service or a water supply pump. The connectingtube 12c is provided with an electromagnetic valve 23c. Other parts ofthe present apparatus are substantially the same, in terms of itsstructure, as those of the apparatuses shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

Referring to the apparatus 2c, the electromagnetic valves 20c and 22care normally closed and the electromagnetic valve 23c is normally open.The apparatus 2c supplies moist air into the culture medium through aplurality of nozzles of the air feed tube 1c in the same way as theapparatus 2 in FIG. 3 does. However, when the moist air supplied aloneis not sufficient for the turf due to dry surroundings, the valve 23c isclosed and the supply of moist air is suspended. The valve 20c is thencaused to open. Water 5c within the moistening tank 4c is caused to passthrough the connecting tube 19c and then the air feed tube 1c and issupplied to the culture medium through a plurality of nozzles under theaction of the highly pressurized air within the high pressure mixingchamber 6c. When the water within the moistening tank 4c is supplied ina certain fixed quantity, for example, from water level L1 to waterlevel L2, the valve 22c is caused to open and water is supplied throughthe water supply tube 21c into the moistening tank 4c. Simultaneously,the valve 20c is closed and the water supply to the culture medium issuspended. Then, the valve 23c is caused to open and the moist air isagain supplied as before. When the level of the water supplied into themoistening tank 4c is elevated to the original position L1, the valve22c is closed and the water supply is suspended. In the course of moistair supply process, the water supply is automatically repeated atintervals of required time.

Reference is made to the automatic change-over system mentioned above.An example of this system is provided with a timer, an electric devicefor detecting the level of water lowered and a device for detecting thelevel of water raised.

The timer is used for opening the electromagnetic valve 20c at intervalsof the required time and for closing the electromagnetic valve 23c. Thedevice for detecting the level of water lowered is for detecting thelevel of the water lowered to L2 within the moistening tank and forclosing the electromagnetic valve 20c and opening electromagnetic valves22c and 23c by an electric signal generated from such detection. Thedevice for detecting the level of the water raised is for detecting thelevel of water raised to L1 and closing the electromagnetic valve 22c byan electric signal generated from the relevant detection.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for growing organisms by moist air comprising aventilative culture medium for growing organisms, an air feed tubehaving a plurality of nozzles buried in said culture medium, and a moistair generating apparatus connected with one end of said air feed tube,said air generating apparatus including a closed moistening tank havingwater therein, a closed high pressure mixing chamber defined in saidtank on the surface of the water, an air bubble releasing means providedat a lower part of said moistening tank for releasing air bubbles intothe water, and a moist air outlet provided on the top of said highpressure mixing chamber and connected with said one end of said air feedtube.
 2. The apparatus for growing organisms by moist air according toclaim 1 wherein said organisms are plants allowed to grow on saidculture medium and extend roots into said culture medium.
 3. Theapparatus for growing organisms by moist air according to claim 1further comprising a growing container containing said culture mediumand a substantial portion of said air feed tube, and wherein saidculture medium is sand placed within the growing container and saidorganisms are benthoses released into the sand.
 4. The apparatus forgrowing organisms by moist air according to either one of claims 2 or 3further comprising means for heating or cooling the water within saidmoistening tank.
 5. An apparatus for growing organisms by moist aircomprising a ventilative culture medium for growing organisms, an airfeed tube having a plurality of nozzles buried in said culture medium,and a moist air generating apparatus connected with one end of said airfeed tube, said air generating apparatus including a closed moisteningtank having water therein, a closed high pressure mixing chamber definedin said tank on the surface of the water, an air bubble releasing meansprovided at a lower part of said moistening tank for releasing airbubbles into the water, a moist air outlet provided on the top of saidhigh pressure mixing chamber, a first valve at said moist air outletconnected with said one end of said air feed tube, a water outletprovided on the lower part of said moistening tank, a second valve atsaid water outlet connected with said one end of said air feed tube, athird valve connected to said moistening tank, and means, connected byway of said third valve with said moistening tank, for supplying waterinto said moistening tank.